Cape Honeysuckle-Red

Plant Type: shrub
Plant Height: 6-10 feet
Spread: 6-8 feet
Flower Color: bright red
Sun Exposure: Full Sun, Partial Shade

Cape Honeysuckle-Red (Tecoma capensis) – A Vibrant and Versatile Shrub for Arizona Gardens

Cape Honeysuckle-Red, botanically known as Tecoma capensis, is a resilient, colorful shrub that thrives in the Arizona climate. Originally from South Africa, this plant is celebrated for its striking red blooms and ability to adapt to various landscaping styles. With its lush foliage and vivid flowers, Cape Honeysuckle-Red adds a tropical touch and year-round color to outdoor spaces.

Key Features of Cape Honeysuckle-Red

1. Brilliant Red Blooms
   The most distinctive feature of Cape Honeysuckle-Red is its vibrant red, tubular flowers that bloom in clusters. These eye-catching flowers bloom throughout the year, with a peak in the fall and winter, making it a source of color even in cooler months. The blooms are attractive to pollinators like hummingbirds and butterflies, adding an ecological benefit to your garden.

2. Sprawling Growth Habit
   With a vining, sometimes sprawling habit, Cape Honeysuckle-Red is versatile in the landscape. It can be trained as a hedge, espaliered along walls, used as an ornamental shrub, or allowed to climb on trellises and fences for a vibrant display. This flexibility allows it to fit seamlessly into various garden designs, from formal hedges to wild, naturalistic plantings.

3. Drought Tolerance and Adaptability
   Well-suited to Arizona’s arid conditions, Cape Honeysuckle-Red is drought-tolerant once established and can thrive in a range of well-drained soils. It does best in full sun, though it will tolerate partial shade with slightly reduced flowering. It’s also capable of withstanding coastal conditions, making it a hardy option for diverse environments.

Growing and Maintenance Tips

• Sunlight: Prefers full sun for the best flowering, though it can adapt to partial shade.
• Soil: Thrives in well-drained soil; tolerant of various soil types.
• Watering: Requires minimal water once established; suitable for water-wise gardening.
• Pruning: Prune regularly to control size, shape, and promote denser, more prolific flowering.

Landscape Uses

Cape Honeysuckle-Red’s flexibility makes it an excellent choice for a variety of landscaping needs:

• Hedges and Borders: Use as a flowering hedge to define boundaries.
• Trellises and Fences: Allow it to climb for a lush, cascading effect.
• Ornamental Shrub: Plant as a standalone shrub to add a pop of color.
• Pollinator Gardens: Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies, supporting local wildlife.

Benefits of Choosing Cape Honeysuckle-Red

This plant combines beauty with resilience, bringing year-round color and tropical flair to landscapes with minimal maintenance. Its ability to adapt to various growing conditions and landscaping uses makes it a versatile and reliable choice for gardeners. The attraction to pollinators adds ecological value, while its vibrant flowers bring a splash of tropical color to desert gardens.

Summary

Cape Honeysuckle-Red is a vibrant, adaptable choice for Arizona landscapes, offering brilliant red flowers, easy care, and a flexible growth habit. Its drought tolerance, year-round blooms, and wildlife appeal make it an excellent addition to gardens, adding both aesthetic charm and ecological benefits.

Three Timbers Installation Guide (Feel Free to Follow): Cape Honeysuckle - Red & Yellow

Planting Guide:

• Location: Full sun (at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal growth and flowering)
• Soil: Well-drained, loamy or sandy soil (slightly acidic to neutral soil preferred)
• Spacing: Space plants 3-4 feet apart to allow for optimal growth and air circulation
• Planting Depth: Plant at the same depth as the root ball, ensuring the top of the root ball is level with the surrounding soil surface
• Support: Cape Honeysuckle is a semi-evergreen shrub that can be used as a vine or trained to grow upright, requiring support like a trellis or fence for vertical growth

Watering Guide:

Watering After Planting:

• Initial Watering: Water thoroughly immediately after planting to saturate the root ball and surrounding soil
• Frequency: Water every 2-3 days for the first 2-3 weeks to help establish the root system
• Watering Amount: Provide 1 inch of water per session to ensure deep watering around the roots

When is the Plant Established?

• Timeframe: Cape Honeysuckle is considered established after 3-4 months when the roots have spread into the surrounding soil and the plant begins showing consistent new growth

Watering Once Established:

• Summer: Water every 7-10 days during the hotter months. If temperatures exceed 100°F, increase watering to every 5-7 days. Provide 1.5-2 inches of water per session.
• Winter: Water every 3-4 weeks during the cooler months, depending on rainfall.

Drip Irrigation Setup:

• Placement of Emitters: Place the drip emitters 12-18 inches away from the base of the plant to ensure that water reaches the root zone
• Flow Rate: Use emitters with a flow rate of 2-4 gallons per hour for slow, deep watering
• Number of Emitters: 1-2 emitters per plant for even water distribution
• Adjusting Frequency: In the summer, increase watering frequency to every 5-7 days to ensure hydration. In winter, reduce watering to every 3-4 weeks